Greeks Gate

Greeks Gate
Bieb il-Griegi
View of the Greeks Gate
General information
Status	Intact
Type	City gate
Architectural style	Medieval and Baroque
Location	Mdina, Malta
Coordinates	35°53′8.73″N 14°24′6.13″E / 35.8857583°N 14.4017028°E / 35.8857583; 14.4017028
Construction started	Medieval period
Renovated	1724
Owner	Government of Malta
Technical details
Material	Limestone
Renovating team
Architect	Charles François de Mondion

The Greeks Gate (Maltese: Bieb il-Griegi or Il-Mina tal-Griegi, Italian: Porta dei Greci, Latin: Porta Grecorum) is a gate into the fortified city of Mdina, Malta. The gate was originally built in the medieval period, and its outer portal was built in the Baroque style in 1724 by Charles François de Mondion. Despite this, the rear part of its gate retains its original form, making it one of the few visible remains of Mdina's medieval walls.

The Greeks Gate is one of three gates of Mdina, the others being the Mdina Gate and the Għarreqin Gate. It is located near the southwest corner of the city, and it got its name since a small Greek community once lived close to the gate. This gate was the only entrance into Mdina from which slaves were allowed to enter.

In the medieval period, the Greeks Gate was flanked by a D-shaped wall tower, which remained in use until the early 18th century, when Mdina's fortifications were upgraded under the military engineer and architect Charles François de Mondion. It is believed that the tower still exists buried behind Mondion's ramparts. At this point, Mondion also grafted a Baroque portal onto the Greeks Gate, giving it its present appearance. The inscription on the gate which commemorates this renovation is dated 1724.

The Greeks Gate was restored between January and June 2003 by the Restoration Unit of the Ministry for Resources and Infrastructure. Restoration cost Lm15,000, and it included cleaning the gate, consolidating its decorative elements, and removal of vegetation on the roof. Plans for another restoration were made in 2014, when the government allocated €1 million of ERDF funds for the restoration of Greeks Gate and the surrounding areas. Restoration of the gate commenced in late 2015 and was completed in early 2016.